Medivir’s partner makes clinical progress in veterinary project
Medivir’s partner Vetbiolix has reported positive results from a clinical proof-of-concept study in periodontal disease in dogs with one of Medivir’s drug candidates. In a comment to BioStock, Medivir’s CEO Jens Lindberg emphasizes that it is proof of the company’s ability to establish successful partnerships.
In the spring of 2019, Medivir entered into a license agreement for its drug candidate MIV-701 with the French veterinary company Vetbiolix. First-in-human studies with MIV-701, later rebranded as VBX-1000, revealed the candidate to be unsuitable for treating human diseases, but that it has excellent properties for veterinary use.
Upon signing of the agreement, Medivir received a first milestone payment after the product met certain quality requirements. Medivir is entitled to additional milestone payments during its continued development as well as royalties.
Positive results from proof-of-concept study
The candidate has shown potential for the treatment of periodontal disease in dogs, making it the first specific cathepsin-K inhibitor for this indication.
This week, Vetbiolix reported positive results from a clinical proof-of-concept study in periodontal disease in dogs with VBX-1000. The study showed that the medicine was well tolerated, and that the primary endpoint was met. Treatment with VBX-1000 resulted in a statistically significant reduction in CTX1, a plasma biomarker of bone degradation.
Upcoming steps in development
Vetbiolix now intends to conduct a regulatory clinical pilot study to further prove the efficacy of the candidate in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial in dogs.
In a press release, Medivir states that the agreement with Vetbiolix only entitles Medivir to minor development and regulatory milestone payments. Rather, the value-creating potential lies in future royalty payments on net sales and/or share of partnering payments that Vetbiolix receives in the event of future partnering agreements with VBX-1000.
Proof of partnering prowess
In the same press release, Medivir states that partnerships and collaborations are central to the company’s business model to accelerate the development of all assets, reduce financial risk and create additional value for shareholders.
Commenting on the positive proof-of-concept results, Medivir’s CEO Jens Lindberg said:
The content of BioStock’s news and analyses is independent but the work of BioStock is to a certain degree financed by life science companies. The above article concerns a company from which BioStock has received financing.“The positive results with MIV-701 mean that Medivir now has five out-licensed projects, four of which are in clinical phase, creating upside for our shareholders without any additional investments from us. This demonstrates our ability to establish partnerships while confirming the quality of the company’s research and development work.”
